Blood board to discuss hep C report in March

The board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service will not now discuss a report on why 34 blood donors infected with the hepatitis…

The board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service will not now discuss a report on why 34 blood donors infected with the hepatitis C virus were not told of their condition for a number of years until its meeting in March.

Reports this afternoon said the document reveals nearly 100 blood donors initially tested positive for the virus in the early 1990s but were not informed at the time. The number was later reduced to 34 after further tests were carried out.

However, those who had tested positive for the potentially fatal condition were not informed for a number of years that they had the virus and it emerged in 2002 that the IBTS had been aware of their diagnoses much earlier.

The IBTS now faces legal action from the infected individuals, who claim they could have been treated for their condition earlier had they known about it.

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It was thought the IBTS would discuss an interim report into the matter by Prof Bernard Kubanek today.

However, in a statement this evening the IBTS has said a report into the matter was not available for today's meeting.

The IBTS said it expects that the report will be finalised in time for the March meeting and that the board would discuss the report and its implications at that time.